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Respiratory viruses and face masks

COVID-19 - face coverings; Coronavirus - face masks; Respiratory viruses - face coverings

In places where respiratory viruses are spreading, wearing a face mask in public helps protect other people from possible infection with viruses such as COVID-19 or the flu. Other people who wear masks help protect you from infection. Wearing a face mask may also protect you from infection.

Wearing face masks helps reduce the spray of respiratory droplets from the nose and mouth. Using face masks in public settings helps reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.

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Face masks prevent the spread of COVID-19
How to wear a face mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19

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How Masks Help Protect People From Respiratory Viruses

Respiratory viruses spread most readily to people with close contact (about 6 feet or 2 meters). When someone with the illness coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice, respiratory droplets spray into the air. You and others can catch the illness if you breathe in these droplets, or if you touch these droplets and then touch your eye, nose, mouth, or face.

Wearing a face mask over your nose and mouth keeps droplets from spraying out into the air when you are speaking, coughing, or sneezing. Wearing a mask also helps keep you from touching your face.

You can choose to wear a mask and take other steps to help prevent respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 and the flu from spreading:

About Face Masks

When choosing a face mask, follow these recommendations:

The CDC provides more detailed information on ways to increase mask protection.

Learn how to properly wear and care for a face mask:

Face masks should not be worn by:

For some people, or in some situations, wearing a face mask may be difficult. Examples include:

In these types of situations, staying at least 6 feet away (2 meters) from others is particularly important. Being outside can also help. There may be other ways to adapt as well, for example, some face masks are made with a piece of clear plastic so the wearer's lips can be seen. You can also talk with your health care provider to discuss other ways to adapt to the situation.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Community respirators and masks. www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/publicppe/community-ppe.html. Updated May 16, 2023. Accessed April 22, 2024.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. How to use your N95 respirator. www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/publicppe/use.html. Updated May 16, 2023. Accessed April 22, 2024.

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Review Date: 2/22/2023  

Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 04/26/2024.

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